1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

I recently purchased a 1969 Hernandis guitar. I bought it from a classical guitarrist who hadn't been using it since he bought a Ramirez. I couldn't find any info on this brand. It is in very nice condition. It has the following label:
-----------------------------------------
Constructor de Guitarras
Antonio Hernandis
Exclusivas Distribuidores
Antigua Casa Sherry-Brener, Ltd.
No. 1 Madrid 1969
-------------------------------------------

Has anyone heard of or played this model?
Where was it manufactured?
Was this considered a concert-grade guitar?
What did it sell for in 1969?
What might it be worth today?

Comment viewing options

Select your preferred way to display the comments and click "Save settings" to activate your changes.

Re: 1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

Posted by Hudson Bay on Tue, 05/20/2003 - 17:58.

: I recently purchased a 1969 Hernandis guitar. I bought it from a classical guitarrist who hadn't been using it since he bought a Ramirez. I couldn't find any info on this brand. It is in very nice condition. It has the following label:
: -----------------------------------------
: Constructor de Guitarras
: Antonio Hernandis
: Exclusivas Distribuidores
: Antigua Casa Sherry-Brener, Ltd.
: No. 1 Madrid 1969
: -------------------------------------------

: Has anyone heard of or played this model?
: Where was it manufactured?
: Was this considered a concert-grade guitar?
: What did it sell for in 1969?
: What might it be worth today?

Re: 1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

Posted by Rick DiVito on Mon, 07/14/2003 - 08:25.

I have a 1972 Model. These were offered by Sherry Brenner Ltd, an importer. Yours,looks as if it is from Spain. Mine is made in Japan. Just a gorgeious guitar. Thats about all I know. There is , I believe, a website for Hernandis Made in Spain guitars. The same guitar Made in Spain is over 4000.00 new!!

Re: 1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

Posted by ray alexander on Sun, 01/11/2004 - 20:15.

: : I recently purchased a 1969 Hernandis guitar. I bought it from a classical guitarrist who hadn't been using it since he bought a Ramirez. I couldn't find any info on this brand. It is in very nice condition. It has the following label:
: : -----------------------------------------
: : Constructor de Guitarras
: : Antonio Hernandis
: : Exclusivas Distribuidores
: : Antigua Casa Sherry-Brener, Ltd.
: : No. 1 Madrid 1969
: : -------------------------------------------

: : Has anyone heard of or played this model?
: : Where was it manufactured?
: : Was this considered a concert-grade guitar?
: : What did it sell for in 1969?
: : What might it be worth today?

: : Thanks in advance for any info you might give me.

*** Ok , I hit that damn button the first time by mistake .
Here is my message - There is a Hermandis on ebay right now . This one is made in Japan . By the way , the famous Lowden guitar was once made in Japan as well . Lowdens are now being made back in Ireland once again . Also , Robert Dillon ( who is an amazing guitar player - he's on the web ) plays a Hermandis .
Regards - Ray Alexander

Re: 1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

Posted by Hudson Bay on Tue, 05/20/2003 - 18:00.

: I recently purchased a 1969 Hernandis guitar. I bought it from a classical guitarrist who hadn't been using it since he bought a Ramirez. I couldn't find any info on this brand. It is in very nice condition. It has the following label:
: -----------------------------------------
: Constructor de Guitarras
: Antonio Hernandis
: Exclusivas Distribuidores
: Antigua Casa Sherry-Brener, Ltd.
: No. 1 Madrid 1969
: -------------------------------------------

: Has anyone heard of or played this model?
: Where was it manufactured?
: Was this considered a concert-grade guitar?
: What did it sell for in 1969?
: What might it be worth today?

: Thanks in advance for any info you might give me.

I bought a 1969 Antionio Hernandis #1 with black palosanto and old spanish pine for $375.00 in 1969 or 70

Re: 1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

Posted by kathys_dreams on Fri, 01/23/2004 - 02:38.

I have just purchased for resale a Hernandis #3 1970 Guitar, OMG it is beautiful, and the sound is amazing. I plan to sell it on ebay here shortly. I am also having trouble finding information on it. I plan to just list it and let the buyers decide its worth. Sound board made in spain, back and sides are rosewood made in india, fingerboard is granadillo neck is cedar/africa, rosette inlaid wood marquetry persia, final assembly was made 1970 in Japan. I'd be interested to learn anything you have about this guitar. You will see mine pictured on ebay by this weekend..... Hope you enjoy yours.
Kathy

Re: 1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

Posted by Mike Mohr on Fri, 03/26/2004 - 19:18.

: I recently purchased a 1969 Hernandis guitar. I bought it from a classical guitarrist who hadn't been using it since he bought a Ramirez. I couldn't find any info on this brand. It is in very nice condition. It has the following label:
: -----------------------------------------
: Constructor de Guitarras
: Antonio Hernandis
: Exclusivas Distribuidores
: Antigua Casa Sherry-Brener, Ltd.
: No. 1 Madrid 1969
: -------------------------------------------

: Has anyone heard of or played this model?
: Where was it manufactured?
: Was this considered a concert-grade guitar?
: What did it sell for in 1969?
: What might it be worth today?

: Thanks in advance for any info you might give me.

I have a Hernandis 1A, bought in 1988, from Sherry-Brenner, Ltd. Chicago, Il. I believe he was having them made for him, but I don't remember where. I preferred it to the more expensive Ramirez. Although I am not a concert performer I have played for over 35 years and feel blessed to have my Hernandis.

Re: 1969 Hernandis No. 1 classical guitar.

Posted by Bill Lathrop on Tue, 05/25/2004 - 11:57.

Hello Dale:
I don't have any info on this guitar but I have the same one... made in Madrid, 1969. I bought it in Miami in probably the late 70's. I believe I paid $175.00 with my tax refund check.
I'm starting to learn to play this instrument again (after many years absence).
Thomas Preibsch, a Swedish classic guitarist who teaches in Andorra, Andorra... and who I just met on a visit to Europe has inspired me to start again.
(I hope you don't mind my momentary digressing.)
I've never myself heard a better sounding guitar... nor one much more beautiful.
Nice to connect with you. Best wishes.
Bill Lathrop
Ocala, Florida

Hernandes guitar

Posted by Mike Frazier on Sun, 12/11/2011 - 05:32.

Hello, I bought the Hernandes assembled in Japan 2 years ago. I paid $150 at a cherity auction. It was on TV "We Care", a n annual Christmas event in Kokomo Indiana. Anyway, they didn't give any details on the guitar & I think people were hesitant to bid. It was after I'd bought the guitar, that I learned of the controversy on the cost of the guitar..... I have to say that mine plays & sounds beautifully! Sounds like way more than a $150 guitar! I took it to a music shop in Kokomo & they had no info on it. And they seemed to be pretty knowledgable on guitars. So, like all other Hernandes owners, I too would like to know whst this guitar is really worth. Thanks!!....Mike in Greentown

Antonio Hernandiz 1969 Classical

Posted by David S on Thu, 03/08/2012 - 03:53.

I bought mine from a friend in 1970 for a song, pardon the pun, ( or maybe I traded it for aGibson 12-string acoustic - I don't remember). In any case, she said it was the finest classical guitar she could afford. I have used it and abused it on and off, mostly off in the past 25 years since I went steel string and electric, but when I take it out of its case it looks new and sounds incredible, even though I haven't changed the strings in 10 years. I suspect I have a neglected treasure that is worth quite a lot by now but I haven't done my research yet. I'll be curious to see what one goes for on eBay.
David in New Haven

1972 Hernandis grade 1

Posted by Jon J on Tue, 06/12/2012 - 07:08.

With all the vitriol about these guitars there is obviously a lot of confusion about their origin, construction and marketing. My father purchased this guitar for me new in 1972. It was purchased from my first guitar instructor, Frank, who gave us the in store discount I believe was $175.00. The guitar was kept in a back private display room with other high end concert guitars. Frank told us about the guitar, the importer Sherry-Brenner and a little known and probably purposely omitted fact that this line of guitars were the inspiration of one of the luthiers for Rameris guitars. Forty years earlier he had purchased the woods and intended to build his own line of guitars to compete with the Rameris line but Rameris put the kybosh on his project saying he was contracted to them and couldn't build guitars under his own name. The woods sat in a controlled enviornment for forty years untill the luthier surreptitiously cut and shaped all the pieces, shipped them to Japan where another luthier assembled and finished them. Sherry-Brenner bought the whole line planning to market them as concert guitars and Rameris stepped in again threatening action against them. They dummied up the Hernandis lable and sold the guitars at a steep discount as "student" quality guitars. Frank said that this guitar was well worth keeping and one day the truth of it's pedigree will come forward and it's true value will be known. If you examine the construction you will see the similarity to Rameris guitars and examining the glue joints you will see that this instrument could only have been built by hand in 1972 as very little excess glue oozed from the glue joints and no extra effort was necessary to remove any excess glue. No doubt the nay sayers may well represent Rameris still and are trying to keep these guitars in their undervalued state. One day the estates of the two luthiers may well disclose the heritage of these guitars and Rameris will have an embarassing moment but they have always built fine guitars and in the long run the Hernandis line will be comprable or exceed the value of Rameris just due to the controversy surrounding their planning, construction and marketing. I was shopping guitars and went to More Music in Santa Cruze that deals in concert guitars to see what's out there. I tried the top end $6,000.00-$8,000.00 guitars and when the sales man (he was extremely knowledgeable and totaly knew every detail of every guitar he sold) asked me what I currently have and I said "1972 Hernandis grade 1". The sales man shook his head, patted me on the back and said "I can't sell you a guitar today. Nothing I have will compare to what you have already and you will never be satisfied with anything else." He sold me Kremona pickup and a set of strings instead. I choose to believe he is right.

Hernandis Grade 1A

Posted by mrado on Sun, 10/06/2013 - 16:06.

I have one of these guitars, purchased used in 1977 or 1978 from a friend of my guitar teacher. I was 16 or 17, and it was the first thing of value that I ever paid for all by myself. I had to pay the previous owner in installments. I have always stored it properly, and aside from a couple of minor chips it seems in perfect condition. It certainly still sounds amazing. I found your article when I was researching it's value, because I thought about selling it earlier this year. I always felt it was a very special instrument, and really enjoyed reading about its background even though I am still confused as to its value. My son recently took an interest in playing so my plans to sell are on hold, but I would like to hear from others about their experiences.

Hernadis guitar

Posted by Anonymous on Thu, 12/27/2012 - 21:06.

I'm in the process of buying one from a private seller. Its from 1969.It needs new string. He's selling it for 20.00 dollars. he sent me a picture from his phine, and it looks to be in good condition. Is this a good buy? Thanks.

Grade 1

Posted by Anonymous on Tue, 01/20/2015 - 04:06.

I have a '73 Grade 1 and it's a very nice guitar. Have had the chance to A-B it against handmade Spain guitars and it has always outperformed them. Now, granted these handmades are only in the $5000 - $6000 range, so don't know how it would stack up against a $10K-$20K instrument.

I have always used Augustine Blues and Savarez High Tension strings.

I used to sell these guitars and was able to buy whatever I wanted. I had a real fondness for the Hernandis guitars. Very fast action / neck and a sound like a grand piano.

1969 Number 3 Made in Madrid

Posted by Mark Miller on Sat, 03/07/2015 - 16:38.

I was wondering how much my guitar is worth. I've owned it for years. I believe I obtained it in 1976 as a gift from a girlfriends father. The sound is wonderful. I've never come across a better sounding guitar.

I was wondering...Mark Miller

Garcia Guitar

Posted by Anonymous on Fri, 06/12/2015 - 21:37.

The Garcias are very nice guitars ... more in the class of a student guitar, but in the hands of a very good guitarist they can sound great. Every guitar is unique in sound, action, etc. so in order to appraise it it needs to be seen by a qualified appraiser. I can say this, I recently went shopping for a new classical and can't tell you how disappointed I was in the sub $1K guitars. I have an old Guild Madeira classical that I bought for about the same price as a Garcia (~$200) and it sounded better than anything under $1K at guitar center.

So, my advice, take your guitar to a dealership and play some instruments side by side with your Garcia. You might be surprised at what you end up thinking it is worth.